JACOB H. PRICE

Norfolk, Va.

May, 5, 1951

Dear Mrs. Blalock:

     I just thought I would write you a few lines in regard to Mr. Blalock.  I am the one that roomed with him.  Hope you and the family are getting along alright.

     I have roomed with Mr. Blalock for the past eighteen months and learned to like him very much, and I miss him very much, and I just wanted to express my deepest sympathy to you and the family.  I went to my house at Forest City, NC, the 13th of April and Mr. Blalock went home also.  That’s the last time I saw him.  I spent the week at my home and when I come back on April 28 I saw he was not home and I decided he had gone home again until Mr. Wiley come up to the room and told me about Mr. Blalock.  I couldn’t hardly believe it.

     But that is the debt we have all got to pay, both sooner or later, and he has paid his and I hope he is sleeping in a Better World.

     Mrs. Blalock I just felt like I ought to write you a few lines as I was Mr. Blalock’s room mate.

     Trusting the Good Lord will wonderfully bless and take care of you all.

I remain sincerely yours,

J.H. PRICE

7300 Hampton Blvd.

Norfolk, Va.

~~~

Saturday, April 9 – 49

     Dear Naner,

     Received your nice letters and am glad Mozelle, Douglas, you and all the rest are doing fine.  As for me I am ok except I am just a little cool.  I went out for a walk but the wind is baring down from the northwest and I did not warm up much until I got out in the sun on the south side of the porch and I did all right then.  I guess that the land is still wet as you have had more rain.  I guess I did all right by planting corn and potatoes Saturday evening.  You can get 2 gallons of hybrid corn when you go to town again.  We can keep it on hand so when we get ready to plant corn it will be ready.

     Well I plan being with you all Easter.  Should be in Durham around 11 o’clock.  If we get the land dusted I may plant corn while I am home.  Tell all hallow for me and ask Evelyn, Douglas, Doris and the rest if they want Easter egg candy for Easter.

     Write often.

Love to all,

Bernard

~~~

May 16 – 49

     Dear Naner,

     Well another day of work is done and I am back to the room.  My same bed was waiting when I got back.  I won’t surprised.  Got to the bus station 10 till 11 last night.  My cold seems to be better.  I am not coughing much.  Hope you all are doing just fine…tell the children hallow for me and write often.

With love to all,

Bernard

~~~

Sunday night 11-5

867 West 43 St.

Norfolk, Va.

     Dear Naner & Babies –

     Received your letter and stamps.  Sure was real glad to hear from you all.  But I want your cold to get alot better.  Do go to a Dr.

     Well I have just gotten back from Norfolk.  I went over there this morning.  I ate a chicken supper with D.R. and wife and I believe ate the best rolls I have ever eaten.  I asked Lalon to give me a recipe about making the rolls and she said she would write it out next week and mail it to me in time for me to take it home with me.  I told Lalon that you was a splendid cook but did not know how to make rolls.

     Have you got anybody to saw the slabs yet?  I hope you have.  How does the new heater heat, alright?  It must be a whole lot colder there than it is out here.  The frost hasn’t killed up anything yet here.  A man told me that it frosted enough to break potato vines out where he lived.  But tomato vines has not been bit yet on my street.

     Tell the girls that I am proud of them and want them to still keep bringing good reports not only in school but in every way.  Well I paid that money back today that we borrowed in ’30.  We are a little poorer yet much richer because we have done right.  Tell the children that I said that doing right is the greatest thing in this life.

     Well I guess I will see you all next weekend and tell Edna that I said that I would bring a box of candy home if I can get it sometime.

     If Lawrence is at home next Saturday tell him to drive up to Durham around 3 o’clock Sunday morning and get me.  Am sending you a 20.  You tell Rostus and Doris, Hazel and the rest to look out for me.

     Well I guess I had better stop writing and get to bed.

With lots of love to all,

Bernard

~~~

Sat, May 21 – 49

     Dear Naner,

     Received your letters and I am glad that you are doing fine.  My cold seems to be about well.  I don’t cough any more.  I was in plenty bad way when I was at home last.  I am glad that you all are getting along all right planting your tobacco.  What kind of a stand did…get of the corn in the bottom?  Have the girls to see about it and replant the corn if it needs it.

     Well Naner next Monday the 30 is a Holiday.  Would you want me to go home or had you rather have the money for something else?  You had better not wait too long to order the watch for Edna.  If you haven’t ordered it get the Bulova that sells for $49.00.  Catalog price from Robucks.

     Tell all hallow for me and write often.

Love to all – Bernard

~~~

Wednesday

867 W 42 St

Norfolk, Va.

     Dear Naner –

     Wondering what you, Rostus and Doris are doing.  I punched the time clock on the job at 5:49 o’clock which is almost 1 1/2 hours late.  That will cost 1.71 per hour.  I did not think I could make it in time to get to work on time starting at 6:30.  Mr. Cheek did not charge me any thing for going to town nor would not have any thing for the wood.  He said he would get a starter spring and fix the car.

     If Mr. Sherron can fix the fence tell him I will pay him.  Well tell him to start down there close to the spring the spring he cleaned out and fixed for the cows to get water in the pasture and put the wire along down the creek till he gets to the Upchurch land at the lower end and goes across to N.E. Creek and up to mine and Bullock’s line till he gets close to where Bullock is and cut across to Bullock’s corner and mine where the cut the wood and down mine and Bullock’s to that piece of land at the cabin place.  Leave the field out and carry the wire to the other wire fence we have up.  Tell him when he leaves the land I traded Bullock to follow where Carver cut the wire out of the trees.  The wire was about on the line.  Tell him to be sure that he has the wire on my side of the chops between me and Bullock.  Tell him to use the heavy wire and light wire along together using 3 strands of wire which would be about 2 strands of light wire and one of heavy wire.

     I hope you are a lot better with your cold.  You get some cod liver oil and if you don’t get all right soon see a doctor and take care of yourself.  Send the clothes to get someone to wash them.  Tell the babies hallo for me.  With love to all,

Bernard